National Register of Historic Places

Paxton Carnegie Public Library

Paxton, Ford County, Illinois
Listed
May 8, 2002
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
02000463

About this property

Paxton Carnegie Public Library is in the Ford County, Illinois city of Paxton. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is still used by the Paxton Carnegie Library and is open as a public library. This Carnegie Library was established in 1903 with the help of a grant from steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. The building was designed by architect Paul O. Moratz of Bloomington, Illinois, and its unique architectural features have been preserved throughout its over 100-year history. Construction on the Paxton Library began when the $10,000 Carnegie grant came through; the cornerstone was laid by Harry and George Turner in October 1903. The interior has been restored to its original 1903 appearance, the original furnishings are still in use as is the original oak circulation desk. In 2003 the cornerstone of the library was removed during the 100th-anniversary celebration by Harry Turner's grandson, Alan Turner of Paxton. The Paxton Carnegie Library is governed by a nine-member board of trustees which meets the first Wednesday of each month. Today, the library houses over 26,000 volumes, subscriptions to 73 periodicals for adults and 10 for children and 4 newspapers, 1,000 videos, 300 audio books, microfilm, vertical files, city and county history information, large print books and computers and fax machines for public use. Books are circulated for two weeks at a time, magazines and DVDs for one week. There are overdue fines assessed. All residents of the city of Paxton may have a free library card while non-residents are required to pay an annual fee. The library is an active member of the Illinois Heartland Library System.

Location

254 S. Market St.
Paxton, Ford County, Illinois
40.46073, -88.09849

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Paxton Carnegie Public Library

This page lists Paxton Carnegie Public Library. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Paxton Carnegie Public Library report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Paxton Water Tower and Pump House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Dunnan-Hampton House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Paxton First Schoolhouse
Industrial
0.8 mi
Smith, A. Herr and E. E., Public Library
Industrial
4.3 mi
Chanute Field Historic District
Colonial
11.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Paxton Carnegie Public Library listed on the National Register?

Paxton Carnegie Public Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 8, 2002.

What type of historic resource is Paxton Carnegie Public Library?

Paxton Carnegie Public Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Paxton Carnegie Public Library?

The period of significance for Paxton Carnegie Public Library is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Paxton Carnegie Public Library?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Paxton Carnegie Public Library will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Ford County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Ford County.

Explore FordCounty ›

More historic places in Illinois

Browse all historic places in Illinois.

View Illinoishistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Illinois history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Illinoishistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Paxton Carnegie Public Library will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report